Port Coquitlam's mayor has dismissed a media report citing anonymous sources claiming he is “considering” leading a merger between the centre-right BC United and right-wing BC Conservative parties ahead of October’s provincial election.
West said there have long been attempts to recruit him for the NDP on the part of labour leaders. Rumours swirled around him when former NDP premier John Horgan resigned in fall 2022. West suggested what may be drawing a broad spectrum of political intrigue from others is his “independent” mind. “With respect to the NDP, I've disagreed with them over drug decriminalization, I've disagreed with them over some public safety issues and crime and disagreed with them on the carbon tax,” he said.
Meanwhile, “on the other side,” said West, “I don’t think you can find the more vocal critic of the former government turning a blind eye to money laundering, use of temporary foreign workers, tearing up collective agreements.”